Article:
Activision's Getting Sued Again

Giant publishing firm and secondary arm of Blizzard entertainment, Activision, is being sued once again by people involved with Call of Duty Modern Warfare developer Infinity Ward, over more damages and missing royalties claims. Activision is already being investigated under a lawsuit by two ex-company heads, Jason West and Vince Zampella, who were forced out by Activision with the company stating it was because the devs tried hawking themselves to other publishers while still under contract. That lawsuit is expected to be combined with this new one, which sees 38 current and ex-employees of IW taking up financial arms against the publisher.

The suit claims that Activision owes the people that worked on Modern Warfare 2, some of whom are working on the sequel, a massive $78-$125 million in roaylties and potential damages.

The suit reads, "Activision engaged in this inappropriate course of conduct in an attempt to force employees of Infinity Ward to continue to work at a job that many of them did not want just so Activision could force them to complete the development, production and delivery of Modern Warfare 3." Part of the suit also describes actions by Activision that staff at Infinity Ward were told that since West and Zampella have been fired, their bonuses would all be higher than the ones previously intended for them. The claimants believe this was a tactic by the publisher to keep them in their jobs with the threat of losing their entitled bonuses, should they quit in protest of the treatment of their old bosses.

Activision has so far commented on the suit, but only briefly, stating, "Activision believes the action is without merit," and that the company, "retains the discretion to determine the amount and the schedule of bonus payments for MW2 and has acted consistent with its rights and the law at all times. We look forward to getting judicial confirmation that our position is right."

If the allegations are true, it seems a shame that Activision is going the hard assed route. They made well over a billion dollars with the latest game from Infinity Ward, Modern Warfare 2. 10% of that going to the developer doesn't exactly seem like a lot.

If IW ends up winning this suit, along with their ex-partners in crime, it would be one of the biggest (if not THE biggest) lawsuit payout in the history of the gaming industry. This could be very interesting.